Fingertip and fingerpad toughening and callusing device

ABSTRACT

A fingertip and fingerpad toughening and callusing device is described. The device is a substantially cylindrical element which can be readily positioned in the palm of the hand. Either a portion or all of the surface of the cylindrical element comprises segmented ridges which are pressed and/or rolled upon the fingertip and fingerpad thereby producing a toughening and callusing effect. The device is particularly useful for musicians that play string instruments such as the guitar, mandolin, bass, cello and the like.

te States Patent 1 Carbone Sept. 4, 1973 FINGERTIP AND FINGERPADTOUGHENING AND CALLUSING DEVICE Frank J. Carbone, 1014 Columbia St.,Utica, N.Y. 13502 Filed: Mar. 10, 1972 Appl. No.: 233,559

Inventor:

US. Cl. 128/26, 84/465 Int. Cl A6lh l/02 Field of Search 128/26, 62, 67,333;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1927 Guth 272/68 11/1968 Reiter128/62 3,566,887 3/1971 Nelson 132/39 Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. TrappAttorney-Fred L. Denson et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A fingertip and fingerpad toughening and callusing deviceis described. The device is a substantially cylindrical element whichcan be readily positioned in the palm of the hand. Either a portion orall of the surface of the cylindrical element comprises segmented ridgeswhich are pressed and/or rolled upon the fingertip and fingerpad therebyproducing a toughening and callusing effect. The device is particularlyuseful for musicians that play string instruments such as the guitar,mandolin, bass, cello and the like.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures FINGERTIP AND FINGERPAI) TOUGIIENING ANDCALLUSING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to afingertip and fingerpad toughening and callusing device. In one aspect,this invention relates to a fingertip and fingeredpad toughening devicewhich can be employed by instrumentalists of string instruments. Anotheraspect of this invention relates to a device for the toughening andcallusing of the fingertips and fingerpads of instrumentalists of metalstring instruments.

It is well known that instrumentalists of string instruments can developfingertip and fingerpad soreness as a result of pressing upon orstrumming the strings of the instrument. The fingertip soreness isparticularly noticeable in the left hand and hence limits the playersability to produce clear tones and chords. The soreness produced bypressing or pulling off the strings with the left hand and/or pickingand strumming with the right hand can become extremely painful and hencewith respect to the novice such soreness can be greatly discouraging.

The soreness due to pressing, rubbing, pushing and picking the metalstrings of instruments such as the guitar, mandolin and the like isparticularly painful and hence often prevents the'novice from continuingwith the study of the musical instrument.

There are many ways of toughening and callusing the skin. For example,toughening lotions, liquids, salves and the like are known. Athletessuch as sprinters and basketball players, for example, can use liquidswhich are painted on the soles of the feet in order to produce calluses.These toughener and callus producing devices can cause a decrease in thesensitivity of the fingers and hence may not be suitable forinstrumentalists of string instruments since sensitivity in the fingerscan be important in tone production and control.

Thus, there is a need for improved methods of quickly toughening andcallusing the fingertips and tingerpads (both terms hereinafter beingreferred to as fingertips) since many of the known means have severaldisadvantages for string instrumentalists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention a device isprovided for callusing and toughening the fingertips without adverselyaffecting their sensitivity. The device comprises an element which canreadily be positioned in the palm of the hand. Either a portion or allof the surface of said element comprises sequented ridges, which ridgesupon being pressed, rolled or rubbed on the fingertips effectstoughening and callusing of said fingertips.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a fingertipcallusing and toughening device.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device fortoughening and callusing the fingertips of string instrumentinstruumentalists without adversey affecting the sensitivity of saidfingertips.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a fingertiptoughening and callusing device for instrumentalists of stringedinstruments which comprises metal strings.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a device fortoughening and callusing the fingertips of guitarists.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the accompanying drawingsthe preferred embodi- I ments of the invention are illustrated.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a view of section A-A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the teeth or segmented ridge section whichcovers a portion or all of the surface or periphery.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1illustrates a portion of the periphery l of a cylindrical element. TheFigure illustrates a series of immediately adjacent longitudinal grooves2 said grooves running from one end of the element to the other end ofthe element, and a plurality of immediately adjacent grooves 3transverse to said longitudinal grooves thereby forming a series ofteeth or segmented ridges 4 the segmented ridges in each successive rowbeing substantially collinear with respect to each other.

FIG. 2 is a cross section through a transverse groove taken from A-A ofFIG. 1. In accordance with one preferred embodiment the longitudinalgrooves 2 appear on a portion of the periphery of the cylindrialelement. In accordance with another preferred embodiment FIG. 2illustrates that the callusing and toughening device is hollow 5 therebypromoting lightness. The portion of the periphery not crossed withlongitudinal grooves can either be smooth 6 or the transverse groovescan be continuous.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the teeth or segmented ridges 4 formed bycutting the surface of the device with the longitudinal grooves 2 andthe transverse grooves 3. In accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, the segmented ridges orteeth are in the shape of triangular prisms.

The device when rubbed, but preferably rolled or pressed into thefingertips will over a short period produce a toughening and callusingeffect. The effect will enhance and facilitate chord construction andtone production, and will substantially decrease finger soreness. Suchadvantages are especially desirous for the beginning musician.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device,when in use will advantageously simulate feelingwise the strings of astringed instrument, and especially guitar strings. The effect, if allfour fingers are pressed upon the device, will advantageously simulatefeelingwise the fingering of a guitar chord or the chord for otherstringed musical instruments. In order to obtain these unexpectedadvantages the longitudinal grooves should be substantially parallel. Inorder to obtain the callusing and toughening effect the grooves need notbe parallel however the desirable feeling of pressing upon strings willbe diminished.

The parallel grooves normally extend from one end of the element to theother end of the element and the plurality of said grooves, for comfortreasons generally cover about half the periphery of the element, therebyavoiding toughening and callusing of the palm. The transverse groovescan either completely encircle the element or cover only that portionnecessary to form the segmented ridges. The complete encirclement by thetransverse grooves would facilitate rolling the element against thefingertips.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment as described in FIGS. 1 to3, the element is preferably hollow in order to promote lightness andease of carrying on one's person while the device is not in actual use.As a result of the ease of carrying the element, the instrumentalist canreadily improve the conditions of his fingertips at any time the lefthand is not in use, for example, while riding in a car, watchingtelevision, taking a walk and the like.

For reasons of comfort it is preferable that the device be substantiallycylindrical. The cylindrical shape facilitates rolling between the thumband remaining fingers or between the palm of the hand and the fingers,and eliminates uncomfortable corners. The element or body, however canhave many variations, for example, the body can be ellipsoidal, cubical,polyhedrical, and the like.

The element or body can be made from a variety of materials, forexample, wood; metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copperetc.; polymeric materials such as high density polyethylene,polypropylene, polyesters, polyurethanes, polycarbonates, etc. and thelike.

The element can be prepared by any means well known in the art ofshaping materials, the element can be molded or forged. The grooves canbe formed during the molding or forging operations or thereafter. Thetransverse grooves can be formed by threading and thereafter the elementis grooved longitudinally thereby forming teeth or segmented ridges.

The finished element can be pressed or rolled into the fingertips forany length of time. Preferably, the element should be pressed into thefingertips from about to 50 seconds and repeated as often as possible inorder to produce sufficient callusing and toughess, without any undueoreness and any detrimental loss in fintertip sensitivity with respectto the fingering of the strings.

The dimensions of the element can vary greatly. Typically, the elementwill be cylindrical and be from about I cm to about 6 cm in diameter andfrom about 5 cm to about 11 cm long. The longitudinal grooves can befrom A mm to about 2 mm in width and the length of each ridge or toothcan be from about 1 mm to about 3 mm.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference tocertain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

I Claim:

1. A device for callusing and toughening the fingertips comprising anelement suitable for positioning in the palm of the hand having on aportion of its periphery a plurality of immediatly adjacent longitudinalparallel grooves and a plurality of immediately adjacent groovestransverse to said longitudinal grooves thereby forming a series ofsegmented ridges which can be pressed against the fingertips.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said element is cylindrical.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said plurality of longitudinal groovesextend from one end of the cylinder to the other end of the cylinder andsaid grooves extend over about one half the periphery of the cylinder.

4. The device of claim 3, said device being a polymeric material.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said segmented ridges have the shape oftriangular prisms.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said longitudinal grooves are fromabout 1% mm to 2 mm in width and the length of each triangularprismatically shaped segmented ridge is from about 1 mm to about 3 mm.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical element is about 5 cmto about 1 1 cm long and from about 1 cm to about 6 cm in diameter.

2& UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION ammo.3,756,223 Deted September 4, 1975 gfi FRANK J. CARBONE' It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected As shown below:

Col 1, line 51', "sequented" should read "segmented"; 1 line 59"adversey" should read --adver-se1y-- Col. 2 line 31, "cylindrial"should read --cy1indrica1--. C01. 3, line 41, "toughess" should read"toughness"; line '42 "oreness" should read -soreness--. Signedandsealed vthis Lpth dafi of June 197M".

(SEAL) Attest: EDWARD M.FLEIGI'IER,JR. c. MAEsE LL DANN Attes tingOfficer Commissioner of Patents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (5 6CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentlNo. 5 5 bated Septemb 4, 1973Irwentofls) FRANK J. CARBONE h It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

C01. 1, line 51', "sequented" should read --segmented--;

line 59, "adversey" should read -adversely--.

Col. 2 line 31, "cylindrial" should read -cylindrica1-.

Col. 3, line 41, ,"toughess" should read "toughness";

line '4 2 "oreness" should read "soreness"- Signed aridsealed this umday of June 197d.

(SEAL) Attesc:

EDWARD M.FLETCI+E3R,JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. A device for callusing and toughening the fingertips comprising anelement suitable for positioning in the palm of the hand having on aportion of its periphery a plurality of immediatly adjacent longitudinalparallel grooves and a plurality of immediately adjacent groovestransverse to said longitudinal grooves thereby forming a series ofsegmented ridges which can be pressed against the fingertips.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said element is cylindrical.
 3. The device ofclaim 2 wherein said plurality of longitudinal grooves extend from oneend of the cylinder to the other end of the cylinder and said groovesextend over about one half the periphery of the cylinder.
 4. The deviceof claim 3, said device being a polymeric material.
 5. The device ofclaim 1 wherein said segmented ridges have the shape of triangularprisms.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein said longitudinal grooves arefrom about 1/2 mm to 2 mm in width and the length of each triangularprismatically shaped segmented ridge is from about 1 mm to about 3 mm.7. The device of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical element is about 5 cmto about 11 cm long and from about 1 cm to about 6 cm in diameter.